If there's one act that transported the colourful, build-and-release template of EDM into a chart-topping formula, it's The Chainsmokers. Their sound is a schlocky fusion of dance music tropes and pop bravado, with addictive hooks and cleverly selected collaborators.

Their template is so bulletproof that the self-confessed frat bros bagged themselves a reported $38 million last year. 2017 also finally saw Andrew Taggart and Alex Pall released their debut album to impressive sales. 'Memories... Do Not Open' sold an impressive 166,000 units.

And their ability to knock out chart-topping hits remains very much intact. Their collaboration with British dad rockers Coldplay has spent the last 20 weeks at No.1 on Billboard's Hot Dance/Electronic Song chart — to put that into perspective, Avicii's 'Wake Up' spent 26 weeks at the top, whilst Major Lazer & DJ Snake's 'Lean On' achieved 23 weeks at the top spot.

Now ranked third in Forbes' DJ rich list, thanks to $38 million they made in just 12 months, the duo could well hit the top-spot in 2018 after they announced a residency at Wynn-owned clubs XS Las Vegas and Encore Beach Club, a rite of passage for any aspiring EDM duo. Whether The Chainsmokers will remain relevant in the coming years will be down to their difficult second album. Having built a name for themselves as hit-makers, the pressure is on to keep on climbing. Their ranking in this year's poll demonstrates that they are a duo very much in the ascendnace.